Federal Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit | Design Phase

About the Project

The Colorado Department of Transportation has started environmental review and design work on building a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route that will span almost 18 miles of Federal Boulevard. 

Federal Boulevard is one of the busiest transit corridors in metro Denver. Currently, buses on the corridor experience significant delays, resulting in long travel times. BRT will reduce travel times and improve reliability.

Environmental and Design Work

CDOT is in the environmental review and preliminary design phase of the project. Once information about existing conditions and potential impacts is ready for public review, outreach activities will take place.

CDOT is conducting the environmental and design work based on the Federal Boulevard BRT alignment recommended through the Denver Moves Federal Transit Alternatives Analysis Summary Report and Westminster’s Federal Boulevard Multimodal Transportation Study. Those two plans recommended the side-running BRT option, in which the BRT line would have a dedicated curbside lane, except for between 20th and 50th avenues where the BRT would share lanes with other vehicles.

Project Timeline

  • Pop-up at The MAC
    Wednesday, Jan. 29  from 9 to 11 a.m.
    The MAC
    3295 W 72nd Ave
    Westminster, CO 80030
  • 2023 to 2025: Preliminary design, engineering, and environmental review
  • 2025 to 2027: Final design
  • 2027 to 2029: Construction testing, and commissioning
  • 2030: BRT service underway

Project Area

Map of the Federal Boulevard BRT corridor.
Map of the Federal Boulevard BRT corridor. The project area is defined as Dartmouth Avenue from Englewood Station to Federal Boulevard, Federal Boulevard from Dartmouth Avenue to 120th Avenue, and 120th Avenue from Federal Boulevard to Wagon Road Park-n-Ride.

BRT Station Locations Map

The map above shows how bus rapid transit along Federal Boulevard will connect with existing bus and rail stations and identifies final intersection station locations.
The map above shows how bus rapid transit along Federal Boulevard will connect with existing bus and rail stations and identifies final intersection station locations.

Proposed Improvements Map

The Federal Boulevard bus rapid transit map above shows transit improvements along the corridor, including locations where existing shoulder, right-turn lanes, and third general-purpose lanes are converted to bus lanes, where the roadway is widened, and where the bus rapid transit would operate in mixed traffic. The map also shows areas where speed and reliability improvements are planned.
The Federal Boulevard bus rapid transit map above shows transit improvements along the corridor, including locations where existing shoulder, right-turn lanes, and third general-purpose lanes are converted to bus lanes, where the roadway is widened, and where the bus rapid transit would operate in mixed traffic. The map also shows areas where speed and reliability improvements are planned.

 Project Benefits
  • Provide reliable, high-frequency bus service along 18 miles of Federal Blvd from northern Westminster southern Denver, one of the highest ridership transit corridors in the Denver region
  • Increase safe, accessible and affordable transportation choices for all travelers
  • Improve safety by helping to prevent crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles on heavily traveled urban roads
  • Increase the number of people who can travel on a road while using fewer vehicles, ultimately easing congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
 Project Goals

• Improve safety along the corridor and at transit station areas
• Increase transit reliability and ridership
• Decrease transit travel times
• Promote cultural vibrancy and quality of life along the corridor
• Increase accessibility via transit
• Improve connectivity and mobility